New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson is proving the doubters that he deserved every penny of his four-year, $64 million extension he received this past offseason.
While he does not score 30+ points a game nor shoot three-pointers, he provides a tremendous impact in one grand department that has been a major factor in the Knicks’ successful season thus far: rebounding.
In New York’s 112-108 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Friday, Robinson recorded a double-double, snagging 18 rebounds – eight of them offensive – and scoring 10 points to help the Knicks secure their fourth consecutive victory to improve to 22-18 as the season approaches the halfway mark.
This has been a continuing trend for the big man, as in his past six games, he’s averaging 11.2 rebounds per game, which is 13th best in the NBA over that span. His 4.8 offensive rebounds per game over that span rank 4th best in the NBA and is the best mark in the entire Eastern Conference.
Robinson has maintained high confidence in his play and acknowledges how teams are starting to treat him like a serious paint threat underneath the basket.
“I’m a dangerous man,” Robinson said. “You got to put three guys on me to keep me off the glass. That says a lot. I’m really becoming something.”
Mitchell Robinson via Stefan Bondy of New York Daily News
Indeed, he is becoming something. Robinson’s impact on the glass has been tremendous for the Knicks, with his prolific offensive rebounding skills saving several possessions and creating a plethora of second-chance opportunities for New York.
Robinson’s aggressiveness in the paint is a big reason as to why the Knicks currently lead the NBA in second-chance points per game at 17.6, nearly a whole point difference above the next-highest team, the Houston Rockets (16.9).
On the season, Robinson averages 4.3 offensive rebounds per game. Only Steven Adams of the Memphis Grizzlies averages more in the entire NBA (5.0).
Robinson fights through several defenders down low and just overpowers them in the paint with his long reach to get rebounds. When he is on, he is very difficult to contain.
Robinson will have a tough matchup on Monday against the Milwaukee Bucks, as he will have to work around Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis, and Brook Lopez, all of which are great rebounders and will certainly look to prevent Robinson from securing many rebounds himself.
Nevertheless, he will still be looking to continue to provide a tremendous impact in the rebounding game on Monday, and hope that his contributions can translate into a fifth consecutive win for the Knicks.
Follow this writer on Twitter: @DylanBacker_